Meta to develop AI-powered humanoid robots

Meta has announced its foray into the development of humanoid robots powdered by artificial intelligence (AI).

According to an internal memo obtained by Reuters, the tech giant has created a dedicated robotics product group tasked with creating “consumer humanoid robots” that leverage the power of Meta’s Llama AI platform.

Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s chief technology officer, said the initiative aligns with the company’s broader innovation strategy.

“We believe expanding our portfolio to invest in this field will add value to Meta AI and our mixed and augmented reality programs,” he said.

To lead the project, Meta has appointed Marc Whitten, former chief executive officer (CEO) of self-driving car company Cruise, as vice president of robotics.

Also joining the team is John Koryl, former CEO of second-hand e-commerce company, The RealReal, who will oversee Meta’s retail efforts as vice president of retail.

The company plans to establish physical retail locations, similar to its recent Meta Lab pop-up store, to strengthen its direct sales strategy.

Meta’s move into humanoid robotics signals a major bet on its Reality Labs division, despite its recent financial losses.

The division reported a loss of approximately $5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Meta now joins a competitive landscape populated by other tech giants such as Nvidia and Tesla.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, Nvidia showcased major advancements in AI-powered humanoid robotics.

Also, Elon Musk’s Tesla unveiled its own humanoid robot called Optimus in 2024.

Musk said Optimus’ potentials are “limitless,” adding that it is capable of tasks such as walking dogs, babysitting, mowing lawns, and serving drinks.